10 Pasta Salads Perfect for Backyard Picnics and Parties.

There’s something to be said for that picnic staple that haunts the memories of backyard bbq’s.  Pasta Salad is a one-dish wonder that can sit all day or night on the buffet without wilting, and presents summer’s seasonal bounty or your pantry staples just as easily.   The key is to avoid the mayo, which just screams church bazaar grannies, unwanted calories and food spoilage in the making.  Here are 10 pasta salad recipes we’ve culled from around the web for you to try this holiday weekend.  We haven’t tested, tasted or tried these – lordy, who can afford the time and calories – but they’re all from reliable sites.  If you try one and enjoy it, please comment below and let us know!

Greek Spinach-Salad Pasta with Feta, Olives, Artichokes, Tomatoes & Pepperoncini

Source: The Splendid Table.com

Cold sesame noodles with summer vegetables

Source: bonappetit.com

Soba Noodles with Eggplant & Mango

Source: kitchen window/npr.org

Warm Pasta Salad with Shrimp

Source: cooking light.com

John Besh’s Asian Chicken Salad with Ramen Noodles

Source: The Splendid Table.com

Easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Source: ErikaFallansbee.com

Peanut Chicken Soba Salad

Source: myrecipes.com

Creamy Avocado Pasta Salad


Source: thesassylife.com

Crunchy Cashew Thai Quinoa Salad with Ginger Peanut Dressing {vegan & gluten-free}

(alright, alright, quinoa is not a pasta.  we know it’s a grain.  but seriously, it’s the hot ingredient of the decade and half your family can’t even pronounce it much less distinguish it from orzo.  which i’ll bet you could substitute in a breeze).

 Source: ambitiouskitchen.com

Non Mayo Version of the Pioneer Woman’s Spicy Pasta Salad with Smoked Gouda, Tomatoes and Basil

Source: blogher.com

Bonus Recipe. Not your granny’s pasta salad even tho’ it has mayo.  The original from The Pioneer Woman.

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Susu
Susu
Retail marketer who loves shopping, fashion, design, travel and dining out. NOLA native, Francophile, and DC-lover living in Charlotte since 1998. Married to a die-hard Wahoo for over 30 years, and mother of one Princeton Tiger. I'm the creator & editor of scoopcharlotte and scoopthelake - if you think you'd like to join our program, email me at scoopcharlotte [at] gmail.com today!